Wings Over the Wine-Dark Sea
One-Shot · 6 Players · Level 8 · ~3–3.5 Hours · Trireme Naval · Harpies & Sirens
📜 Session Summary
| Style Naval Skirmish — Aerial → Charm → Aberrant Boss (entirely on/around the trireme) |
| Win Condition Protect the ship and defeat Lampetia, Fog-Mother (0 HP or force her to sink/flee) |
| Players 6 × Level 8 · Duration 3–3.5 hrs |
| Minis used Harpy (≤10), Mermaid-as-Siren (≤4), Merman (≤3), Jellyfish caster (≤5), Sea spirit (≤5); optional 2nd fog-skiff |
Description
Through Misthaven’s mist the party is already aboard their trireme when a Thetis-touched envoy warns that a siren chorus — amplified by jellyfish fog-witches — is hunting sails. Optional sea spirits may aid or clutter the fog. All three encounters play on the wine-dark deck under wings and song.
Trireme Map
Main deck 40×50 ft · raised bow +15 ft · raised stern +25 ft · 90 ft total length (tapered ends) · center mast/sail · 15 ft ram at bow. Board supports up to 2 additional ships. Optional 2nd ship: a low fog-skiff (30×15 ft) carrying jelly-witches in Enc. 3.
Major Beats
- Mist-trireme: envoy + Conch.
- Enc. 1: Harpies dive the sail.
- Enc. 2: Sirens (mermaids) + consorts — song vs. steel.
- Enc. 3: Fog-skiff arrives; Lampetia + jelly-witches.
Creature / Enemy List
| Creature | Easy | Med | Hard | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harpy | 4 | 6 | 8 | Enc. 1 / 3 |
| Siren | 2 | 3 | 4 | Enc. 2 |
| Siren Consort | 1 | 2 | 3 | Enc. 2 |
| Jelly-Witch | 2 | 3 | 4 | Enc. 3 |
| Lampetia | 1 adj | 1 | 1 | Boss |
Encounter 1 — Talons on the Sail
Overview
6× Harpies dive from fog. Win: drive them off; keep ≥1 sail section intact for a long rest before Enc. 2.
🗺 Terrain
Full trireme deck. Sail: 3 sections (each AC 11 / HP 15). Harpies prefer sails.
Mechanics
- Luring Song DC 11 targets crew first.
- Athletics DC 12 to climb rigging (½ cover).
- Non-combat: Performance DC 14 contest vs. song to confuse 2 harpies into leaving (1/encounter).
- ≥1 sail survives → Long Rest. All destroyed → Short Rest only (row).
Creature Cards
Harpy
Medium Monstrosity, Chaotic Evil · CR 1 (200 XP) · Mini ×10
AC 11 | HP 38 (7d8+7) | Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft.
Skills: Performance +5
Luring Song. 30 ft.; DC 11 Wisdom. Charmed + incapacitated, move toward harpy. Repeat end of turn. Ends if damage taken / deafened.
Sail Priority. On the trireme, harpies attack the sail unless a PC is in melee reach.
Claws. +3 to hit. Hit: 6 (2d4+1) slashing.
Club. +3 to hit. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) bludgeoning.
Encounter 2 — The Sea Begins to Sing
Overview
3× Sirens + 2× Consorts approach the ram and stern. Fog banks roll in (light obscurement).
🗺 Terrain
Trireme + water within 20 ft. Overboard: Athletics DC 13 to climb the ram or oar-ports.
Mechanics
- Non-combat path: Group challenge — stop ears / outsing them (Performance/Religion/Conch) 4 successes before 3 failures (DC 14). Success: sirens withdraw; gain clue about Fog-Mother.
- Combat path: song + boarding. Conch pulses auto-succeed song saves in 10 ft for 1 round.
- RECRUITMENT: Spare a siren → Enc. 3 warning (adv Insight vs Lampetia’s illusion fog).
Creature Cards
Siren (Mermaid reskin)
Medium Fey, Chaotic Neutral · CR 2 (450 XP) · Mini: Mermaid ×4
AC 13 | HP 45 (7d8+14) | Speed 10 ft., swim 40 ft.
Skills: Performance +8, Persuasion +6 | Magic Resistance: adv on saves vs spells
Siren Song. 300 ft. (water/air); DC 14 Wisdom. Charmed 1 minute; must Dash toward siren. Deafened creatures immune.
RECRUITMENT. If spared after Enc. 2 and Persuasion/Performance DC 14, one siren may warn of the Fog-Mother (adv on Enc. 3 Insight).
Multiattack. Two dagger attacks.
Dagger. +5 to hit. Hit: 5 (1d4+3) piercing.
Drowning Embrace (Recharge 5–6). One charmed creature within 5 ft. DC 13 Strength or pulled underwater / overboard (Styx-style: Athletics DC 13 to board).
Siren Consort (Merman)
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · CR 1 (200 XP) · Mini ×3
AC 14 (sharkskin) | HP 32 (5d8+10) | Speed 10 ft., swim 40 ft.
Skills: Athletics +4
Boarding Hook. Advantage on Athletics to climb the ram or hull.
Trident. +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing.
Net (1/day). Range 5/15; Large or smaller DC 12 Dex or restrained.
Conch of Relative Silence
Wondrous Item (maguffin), Unique
Appearance: pale conch etched with closed lips
Handout (21 words). "When wings blot the sail and the sea begins to sing, breathe this shell — deafness is mercy, and mercy is a blade."
Enc. 1–2. Action: you and allies within 10 ft. auto-succeed saves vs. siren song until end of your next turn (1/short rest).
Enc. 3. Action: shatter the conch’s silence-pulse (once) — all siren/jelly casters DC 15 Con or lose concentration and song for 1 round; deals 20 thunder to the Fog-Mother if she is within 30 ft.
Encounter 3 — Fog-Mother Lampetia (Boss)
Overview
A fog-skiff (2nd ship, 30×15) grapples the starboard rail. Lampetia + 3× Jelly-Witches + 2× Harpies.
🗺 Terrain
Trireme + fog-skiff parallel. Grapple lines (AC 12 / HP 10 each; 3 lines). Mast = climb/fly perch.
Mechanics
- Win: Lampetia 0 HP or skiff sunk (HP 50) while she is aboard and Conch pulse used → she flees into the deep.
- Conch finale pulse: once, as item card.
- Persistence: no gods slain; Fog-Mother is aberrant, killable.
Creature Cards
Lampetia, Fog-Mother of Sirens
Large Aberration (Jelly-Queen), Chaotic Evil · CR 9 (5,000 XP) · BOSS · Mini: Jellyfish caster (large staging)
AC 16 | HP 161 (14d10+84) | Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)
Saves: Dex +7, Wis +7, Cha +8 | Resistances: lightning, psychic, BPS nonmagical | LR 2/day
Chorus Nexus. While ≥1 Siren is within 60 ft., her Siren Dirge DC is 16 instead of 15.
Shipboard Presence. Lairs on the fog-skiff (2nd ship) or hangs from the mast if the skiff is destroyed.
Multiattack. Three sting tendrils, or two tendrils and Dirge.
Sting Tendril. +8 to hit, reach 15 ft. Hit: 12 (2d8+3) piercing + 10 (3d6) poison.
Siren Dirge (Recharge 5–6). 60 ft.; each creature of her choice DC 15 Wisdom or charmed+incapacitated 1 min (repeat end of turns). Deafened immune.
Sow Fog-Witches (1/day). Summons 2 Thalassic Jelly-Witches in fog within 30 ft.
Tendril (Cost 1). One sting tendril.
Drift (Cost 1). Fly/swim 20 ft. without provoking.
Call Wings (Cost 2). 2 Harpies within 120 ft. each make one claws attack.
Thalassic Jelly-Witch
Medium Aberration, Neutral Evil · CR 3 (700 XP) · Mini: Jellyfish caster ×5
AC 13 | HP 58 (9d8+18) | Speed 20 ft., swim 30 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover, fog only)
Resistances: lightning, psychic | Immunities: poisoned
Fog Veil. While lightly obscured by fog, ranged attacks vs. it have disadvantage.
Sting Aura. Creatures that hit it with melee take 3 (1d6) poison.
Multiattack. Two sting tendrils.
Sting Tendril. +5 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing + 7 (2d6) poison; DC 13 Con or poisoned 1 min.
Cast Fog (2/day). As fog cloud centered on self, 40-ft. radius, 10 minutes.
Harpy
Medium Monstrosity, Chaotic Evil · CR 1 (200 XP) · Mini ×10
AC 11 | HP 38 (7d8+7) | Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft.
Skills: Performance +5
Luring Song. 30 ft.; DC 11 Wisdom. Charmed + incapacitated, move toward harpy. Repeat end of turn. Ends if damage taken / deafened.
Sail Priority. On the trireme, harpies attack the sail unless a PC is in melee reach.
Claws. +3 to hit. Hit: 6 (2d4+1) slashing.
Club. +3 to hit. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) bludgeoning.
⚖️ Difficulty Scaling
As Written ★ — 6 Players, Average Level 8
- Baseline for this guide. Numbers, DCs, and win tracks assume six PCs at average level 8.
Library Standard — 6 Players, Average Level 8
- Identical to As Written — this guide’s baseline is already 6 PCs at average level 8.
Easier
- APL 4–6: reduce minion counts ~30%; DCs −2; boss loses one recharge or legendary option.
Harder
- APL 10–12: boss HP +25–35%; +1 legendary action; add a lieutenant or extra wave.
📋 Appendix — Cards
Creature Cards
Harpy
Medium Monstrosity, Chaotic Evil · CR 1 (200 XP) · Mini ×10
AC 11 | HP 38 (7d8+7) | Speed 20 ft., fly 40 ft.
Skills: Performance +5
Luring Song. 30 ft.; DC 11 Wisdom. Charmed + incapacitated, move toward harpy. Repeat end of turn. Ends if damage taken / deafened.
Sail Priority. On the trireme, harpies attack the sail unless a PC is in melee reach.
Claws. +3 to hit. Hit: 6 (2d4+1) slashing.
Club. +3 to hit. Hit: 3 (1d4+1) bludgeoning.
Siren (Mermaid reskin)
Medium Fey, Chaotic Neutral · CR 2 (450 XP) · Mini: Mermaid ×4
AC 13 | HP 45 (7d8+14) | Speed 10 ft., swim 40 ft.
Skills: Performance +8, Persuasion +6 | Magic Resistance: adv on saves vs spells
Siren Song. 300 ft. (water/air); DC 14 Wisdom. Charmed 1 minute; must Dash toward siren. Deafened creatures immune.
RECRUITMENT. If spared after Enc. 2 and Persuasion/Performance DC 14, one siren may warn of the Fog-Mother (adv on Enc. 3 Insight).
Multiattack. Two dagger attacks.
Dagger. +5 to hit. Hit: 5 (1d4+3) piercing.
Drowning Embrace (Recharge 5–6). One charmed creature within 5 ft. DC 13 Strength or pulled underwater / overboard (Styx-style: Athletics DC 13 to board).
Siren Consort (Merman)
Medium Humanoid, Neutral · CR 1 (200 XP) · Mini ×3
AC 14 (sharkskin) | HP 32 (5d8+10) | Speed 10 ft., swim 40 ft.
Skills: Athletics +4
Boarding Hook. Advantage on Athletics to climb the ram or hull.
Trident. +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) piercing.
Net (1/day). Range 5/15; Large or smaller DC 12 Dex or restrained.
Thalassic Jelly-Witch
Medium Aberration, Neutral Evil · CR 3 (700 XP) · Mini: Jellyfish caster ×5
AC 13 | HP 58 (9d8+18) | Speed 20 ft., swim 30 ft., fly 20 ft. (hover, fog only)
Resistances: lightning, psychic | Immunities: poisoned
Fog Veil. While lightly obscured by fog, ranged attacks vs. it have disadvantage.
Sting Aura. Creatures that hit it with melee take 3 (1d6) poison.
Multiattack. Two sting tendrils.
Sting Tendril. +5 to hit, reach 10 ft. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing + 7 (2d6) poison; DC 13 Con or poisoned 1 min.
Cast Fog (2/day). As fog cloud centered on self, 40-ft. radius, 10 minutes.
Lampetia, Fog-Mother of Sirens
Large Aberration (Jelly-Queen), Chaotic Evil · CR 9 (5,000 XP) · BOSS · Mini: Jellyfish caster (large staging)
AC 16 | HP 161 (14d10+84) | Speed 20 ft., swim 40 ft., fly 30 ft. (hover)
Saves: Dex +7, Wis +7, Cha +8 | Resistances: lightning, psychic, BPS nonmagical | LR 2/day
Chorus Nexus. While ≥1 Siren is within 60 ft., her Siren Dirge DC is 16 instead of 15.
Shipboard Presence. Lairs on the fog-skiff (2nd ship) or hangs from the mast if the skiff is destroyed.
Multiattack. Three sting tendrils, or two tendrils and Dirge.
Sting Tendril. +8 to hit, reach 15 ft. Hit: 12 (2d8+3) piercing + 10 (3d6) poison.
Siren Dirge (Recharge 5–6). 60 ft.; each creature of her choice DC 15 Wisdom or charmed+incapacitated 1 min (repeat end of turns). Deafened immune.
Sow Fog-Witches (1/day). Summons 2 Thalassic Jelly-Witches in fog within 30 ft.
Tendril (Cost 1). One sting tendril.
Drift (Cost 1). Fly/swim 20 ft. without provoking.
Call Wings (Cost 2). 2 Harpies within 120 ft. each make one claws attack.
Sea Spirit (Lesser Nereid)
Medium Fey, Chaotic Neutral · CR 1/2 · Mini ×5
AC 12 | HP 22 (5d8) | Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
Optional clutter/allies
Mist Form. Can Hide as bonus action in fog.
RECRUITMENT. Kindness DC 12 Persuasion → one spirit extinguishes a fire on the sail once.
Slap. +4 to hit. Hit: 5 (1d6+2) bludgeoning.
NPC / Item
Thetis-Touched Envoy (Quest Giver)
Medium Fey, Neutral Good · Quest Giver
Public face: salt-robed messenger aboard the mist-trireme
Motivation. A siren-queen is calling ships onto rocks — stop the song before the next convoy dies.
Secret. The song is amplified by jellyfish-fog witches bound to the queen.
Conch of Relative Silence
Wondrous Item (maguffin), Unique
Appearance: pale conch etched with closed lips
Handout (21 words). "When wings blot the sail and the sea begins to sing, breathe this shell — deafness is mercy, and mercy is a blade."
Enc. 1–2. Action: you and allies within 10 ft. auto-succeed saves vs. siren song until end of your next turn (1/short rest).
Enc. 3. Action: shatter the conch’s silence-pulse (once) — all siren/jelly casters DC 15 Con or lose concentration and song for 1 round; deals 20 thunder to the Fog-Mother if she is within 30 ft.